Campus News 2012

For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 13, 2012

Schreiner speaker to examine the legends of the Magi

Dr. Charlie McCormick, Schreiner University provost and vice president for academic affairs, will speak on “Historical and Contemporary Legends of the Magi,” at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30, in the ballroom of the Floyd & Kathleen Cailloux Campus Activity Center. The event is part of Schreiner’s Chautauqua Lecture Series and is free and open to the public.

McCormick holds a Ph.D. in folklore and folklife from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in anthropology from Texas A&M University–College Station and bachelor’s degree in English from Abilene Christian University. He is also a professor of English at Schreiner.

“The Magi are interesting figures,” McCormick said. “They make a very brief appearance in only one gospel account, which most biblical scholars consider apocryphal. Nonetheless, they are represented in any number of cultural traditions, artifacts, performances and narratives throughout history and across a wide variety of cultures. My presentation will review the seemingly ubiquitous appearance of these figures through time and space and consider why they have proved so useful as the raw materials for a variety of cultural creations.”